<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 34-1. - Towing, removal and disposal of abandoned and junked motor vehicles.</div>
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               (a)
               
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               It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to cause or allow an abandoned motor
               vehicle or junked motor vehicle to be placed, left, parked, abandoned or junked on
               public grounds or private property within the county's ordinance-making jurisdiction,
               or on county-owned property wherever located.
               
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               (b)
               
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               "Motor vehicle" includes any machine designed or intended to travel over land or water
               by self- propulsion or while attached to a self-propelled vehicle.
               
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               (1)
               
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               An "abandoned motor vehicle" is one that:
               
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               a.
               
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               Is left on public grounds or county-owned property in violation of a law or ordinance
               prohibiting parking;
               
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               b.
               
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               Is left for longer than 24 hours on property owned or operated by the county;
               
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               c.
               
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               Is left for longer than two hours on private property without the consent of the owner,
               occupant, or lessee of the property; or
               
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               d.
               
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               Is left for longer than seven days on public grounds.
               
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               (2)
               
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               A "junked motor vehicle" is an abandoned motor vehicle that also:
               
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               a.
               
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               Is partially dismantled or wrecked;
               
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               b.
               
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               Cannot be self-propelled or moved in the manner in which it originally was intended
               to move;
               
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               c.
               
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               Is more than five years old and appears to be worth less than $100.00; or
               
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               d.
               
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               Does not display a current license plate.
               
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               (c)
               
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               This section does not apply to any vehicle in an enclosed building, to any vehicle
               on the premises of a business enterprise being operated in a lawful place and manner
               if the vehicle is necessary to the operation of the enterprise, or to any vehicle
               in an appropriate storage place or depository maintained in a lawful place and manner
               by the county.
               
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               (d)
               
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               The county may remove, or cause to be removed by contract(s) with private tow truck
               operators or towing businesses, to a storage garage or area an abandoned or junked
               motor vehicle found to be in violation of this section. A vehicle may not be removed
               from private property, however, without the written request of the owner, lessee,
               or occupant of the premises unless the board of commissioners or a duly authorized
               county official or employee has declared the vehicle to be a health or safety hazard.
               County officials, officers and employees have a right, upon presentation of proper
               credentials, to enter on any premises within the county ordinance-making jurisdiction
               at any reasonable hour in order to determine if any vehicles are health or safety
               hazards. The county will require any person requesting the removal from private property
               of an abandoned or junked motor vehicle to indemnify the county against any loss,
               expense, or liability incurred because of the vehicle's towing, removal, storage,
               and/or sale.
               
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               (e)
               
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               The county board of commissioners shall, from time to time, establish reasonable towing,
               removal and storage fees, which fees shall be posted in a schedule of fees maintained
               in the county manager's office. The initial towing or removal fee shall be $125.00
               and the initial storage fee shall be $10.00 a day.
               
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               (f)
               
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               When an abandoned or junked motor vehicle is towed, removed, and/or stored pursuant
               to this section, the county and/or the person or entity authorized to accomplish such
               towing, removal, and/or storage shall give notice as required by G.S. 20-219.11.
               
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               (g)
               
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               The owner or any other person entitled to claim possession of a vehicle towed, removed,
               and/or stored pursuant to this section may request in writing a hearing to determine
               if probable cause existed for the towing, removal, and/or storage of the vehicle by
               following the procedures contained in G.S. 20-219.11(c). For the purposes of this
               section, the definitions in G.S. 20-219.9 and all provisions of G.S.<a href="" data-chunk-id="PTIICOOR_CH20FLDAPR" class="section-link" data-product-id="14661"> ch. 20</a>, art. 7A, shall apply.
               
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               (h)
               
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               At any stage in the proceedings provided for hereinunder, including before the probable
               cause hearing, an owner of a vehicle towed, removed, and/or stored pursuant to this
               section may obtain possession and/or release of their vehicle by:
               
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               (1)
               
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               Paying the towing fee; or
               
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               (2)
               
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               Posting a bond for double the amount of the towing fee.
               
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               (i)
               
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               Once a vehicle has been towed, removed, and/or stored pursuant to this section, the
               vehicle may be sold following the procedure provided for in G.S. 44A-4, 44A-5, and
               44A-6, except that no hearing in addition to the probable cause hearing provided for
               hereinabove is required. If the vehicle is not purchased at such sale and if the value
               of the vehicle is less than the amount of any lien arising hereunder, the county may
               dispose of, or destroy, the vehicle in its discretion.
               
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               (j)
               
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               No person nor the county may be held to answer in a civil or criminal action to any
               owner or other person legally entitled to the possession of an abandoned, junked,
               lost, or stolen motor vehicle for disposing of the vehicle as provided in this section.
               
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            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. No. 103, 10-1-2001;
               <a class="ordinance-link" href="" data-product-id="14661" data-ordinance-id="1011420">
                  Ord. of 1-6-2020(1)
                  </a>
               )
               
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            <p class="refeditor0" block_type="hang"><b>Editor's noteâ€” </b>
               An ordinance adopted Jan. 6, 2020, changed the title of Â§ 34-1 from vehicles abandoned
               on county property to towing, removal and disposal of abandoned and junked motor vehicles.
               
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